‘Agriculture being threatened’, Valley ranchers and advocates champion beneficial legislation

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HARLINGEN — When Andrew Edelen takes his beef and poultry to a processor, he has to drive several hours from Alice to Uvalde or Poth.

The long drive puts stress on him and on his livestock and costs money.

However, two bills under consideration in the federal legislature can change that. Edelen and several other ranchers and organizations met Wednesday to voice their support for the PRIME Act and the LOCAL Foods Act of 2024.

Edelen, owner and operator of Edelen Farms in Alice, focused specifically on the benefits the legislation poses.

The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, or FARFA, in partnership with a statewide network of farmers, ranchers, livestock producers, and consumers, hosted a news conference Wednesday morning at HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability at 19833 Morris Road in Harlingen.

The conference formally launched the Texas State Coalition for the LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 and the PRIME Act.

LOCAL stands for Livestock Owned by Communities for the Advancement of Local Foods. PRIME stands for Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act.

These two critical, bipartisan pieces of legislation would remove federal barriers that currently limit the ability of Texas farmers and ranchers to process and sell locally raised meat.

Their passage is essential for strengthening small farm viability, increasing local food access, and rebuilding regional food systems, said a statement from FARFA.

“According to the latest census, the small agriculture and livestock producers are projected to disappear in the next 30 years,” said Paul Figeroa, senior policy associate at FARFA at the Wednesday meeting.

“If we don’t act now, Texas will not only lose its agricultural legacy but a cornerstone of its economy and its culture,” Figueroa continued. “That’s why we’re here in the Rio Grande Valley where the future of Texas agriculture is being threatened, and we call on Congress to act. Our commonsense reform will remove unnecessary barriers to give farmers and ranchers across Texas a better chance of feeding their communities.”

Not only was the meeting at the location of HOPE, it was also the location of Yahweh’s All Natural Farm and Garden, owned by Diana Padilla.

“Selling directly to consumers by me personally has been our survival,” said Padilla, who is also executive director of HOPE.

“When you sell your animal to the feed lots you lose a lot of money,” she said. “When you sell it directly to the consumer, the consumer knows exactly what they are buying, who they are buying it from.”

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The current system required producers to use only USDA-approved processing plants, the same facilities used by the largest meat producers, says the Institute for Justice website.

The number of USDA-approved meat processing plants, however, have declined, according to the Institute for Justice, which has said that this forces “small farmers and ranchers to book appointments months in advance and then travel hours.”

The legislation would increase access to slaughter houses, they added.

Edelen appreciates the benefit of these changes as well.

“The option we’re talking about with these two acts is being able to utilize a processor that is close to us,” he said. “So I have one that is maybe 2 miles away from our farm. They don’t do the chicken but they will do the beef. So with these acts I’m able to send my beef 2 miles away, which is greatly reducing the stress on the animal. It makes the meat that much better.

“I don’t have to wake up at 4 a.m. and be tired on the road. It reduces cost all the way up to about 30%.”

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